While numerous personnel changes have taken place within the group in its 60+ years of existence, the familiar close harmonies remain The Ink Spots' stock in trade. Making up the current group are bass singer-narrator Harold Winley, second lead Sonny Hatchett, lead tenor Grant Kitchings; and the newest Ink Spot, baritone and guitarist, Morris Dow.
The Ink Spots' story begins in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1932, when four young men - Deek Watson, Charles Fuqua, Orville "Hoppy" Jones and Jerry Daniels - formed the first version of the group. The quartet performed as the Riff Brothers and the Percolating Puppies before settling on the Ink Spots name. In search of a recording contract, the group headed to New York City, where they met up with singer Bill Kenny, who replaced Daniels as the group's lead tenor in 1936. Three years later, The Ink Spots had their first million-selling record, If I Didn't Care. The song, which would be their biggest hit, ultimately sold 19 million copies.
Kenny left the group for a solo career in 1945. The replacement was Jim Nabbie and the hits continued over the next decade; I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire, To Each His Own, My Prayer, I'll Never Smile Again, A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening, Java Jive, Maybe, Into Each Life Some Rain May Fall, We Three, It's A Sin To Tell A Lie, Don't Get Around Much Anymore, Prisoner of Love ... and on and on. After the remaining original members left the group, it was up to Nabbie to keep things going. Frustrated by acts billing themselves as The Ink Spots, Nabbie acquired the rights to the Ink Spots' name and registered it as a trademark. While the frequency of hits slowed in the mid '50's, The Ink Spots' influence was heard in the many doo-wop vocal groups formed during this period, as well as many groups, like the Temptations, which would come along later. The Ink Spots' musical impact was recognized formally in 1987 when inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. They have been inducted into the Apollo Hall of Fame and, in 1997, into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
Nabbie and the rest of the Ink Spots continued to tour, in the neighborhood of some 200 dates a year. Especially pleasing were the 10 to 20 college dates the group would perform each year, where young people, many of whose parents weren't born at the time of The Ink Spots' first hits, would get their first chance to hear the quartet. Nabbie claimed that he was always amazed that younger audiences would accept the "old timers" music so enthusiastically.
In September 1992, Jim Nabbie, "Mr. Ink Spots" for 47 years, passed away, just before the start of an European tour. The Ink Spots were faced suddenly with the prospect of carrying on without their longtime friend and colleague.
More recently, the band has been introduced to a new, or perhaps, younger audience through the highly successful 'Fallout ' series of RPGs, which features the songs 'I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire' (Fallout 3) and 'Maybe' (Fallout).
But carry on the group has! Grant, who had been with The Ink Spots many years ago, was welcomed immediately by audiences with standing ovations. And so it appears that The Ink Spots will remain a viable musical entity for many years to come.
The Ink Spots Bios:
HAROLD WINLEY
Bass Singer/Narrator
His association with The Ink Spots goes back more than fifty years; before he became an original member of THE CLOVERS. It is now more than twenty-five years that he has been performing with THE INK SPOTS on a continual basis. The deep resonance of his voice has thrilled audiences worldwide. He is the "intellectual" of the group and is interested in everything and anything . . . but photography and music are his passions. Born in Washington, DC where most of his family still resides, he was a resident of New York City for many years. He now resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
SONNY HATCHETT
Second Lead/Second Tenor
Sonny is the Group's comedian . . . both on-stage and off-stage . . . and has appeared as a single artist nationally and internationally. Sonny has many comedy albums to his credit. He is also a songwriter and comedy writer and you'll often see his smiling face in movies and commercials filmed in the Miami area. He has been a member of THE INK SPOTS for more than twenty-five years and has earned his nickname of "Twinkle Toes" for his intricate steps on stage. Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, he now makes his home in the Fort Lauderdale area.
HERMAN DENBY
Lead Tenor
When Grant Kitchings (lead singer 1995-2001) became ill while performing with THE INK SPOTS on the Mississippi Queen, Herman responded immediately and was on the next flight to New Orleans. Those were big shoes to fill, but he did so very well. We are proud to have Herman as a permanent member of the group now that Grant has sadly passed. Herman is a very modest man but he is a published poet, a writer and a songwriter. He was an original member of the "Doo-Wop Hall of Fame" group THE SWALLOWS and wrote most of their songs. He is a life long friend of Sonny Hatchett. He was also born in Baltimore but now makes New York City his home.
MORRIS DOW
Baritone/Guitarist
A native of Philadelphia, he now makes his home in Baltimore, Maryland. He has scored music for many motion pictures and television and radio commercials. Also known as one of the finest jazz harmonica players in the country today, he is a guitarist extraordinare. He is also a writer and has recently had a beautiful book published. Before joining THE INK SPOTS, he toured with many famous artists including Jimmy McGriff and Nancy Wilson. He also worked with Herb Kenny, the brother of THE INK SPOTS' original lead singer, Bill Kenny.
Back In Your Own Back Yard
Ink Spots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hoping ev'ry cloud will be silver lined.
But we all return as we live wo learn,
That we left our happiness behind.
When they sing you "Look for the Silver Lining,"
It is silver dollars they're looking for.
You will find my friend that the rainbow's end,
The bird with feathers of blue, is waiting for you,
Back in your own back yard,
You'll see your castle in Spain, through your window pane,
Back in your own back yard.
Oh you can go to the East go to the West,
But someday you'll come weary at heart back where you started from,
You'll find your happiness lies, right under your eyes,
Back in your own backyard.
In Ink Spots's song Back In Your Own Back Yard, the lyrics tell a story about how we often leave home in search of happiness, hoping to find a "blue bird" and a "silver lining" in every cloud. We believe that our dreams are always fulfilled elsewhere, so we begin to travel through life with the mindset of finding happiness outside of our own backyard. However, with time, we come to realize that happiness was always within our reach, within the comfort of our own home. The lyrics suggest that we eventually learn that our happiness is left behind in our own backyard, and that it was always there waiting for us to return.
The song references the famous phrase "Look for the Silver Lining" which was made popular by a 1920s musical of the same name. The phrase implied that despite any negative circumstances, there is always a silver lining to look out for. In the song, the phrase takes on a different meaning as it suggests the pursuit of financial wealth that could lead to happiness. However, Ink Spots's lyrics subvert the phrase by suggesting that happiness is not found in silver dollars, but rather in the familiar and comfortable surroundings of our own homes.
The lyrics mention a "bird with feathers of blue" that is waiting for us "back in our own back yard." This blue bird is symbolic of our own happiness, which we tend to overlook in our search for fulfillment elsewhere. The song encourages us to remember that we have the power to find happiness right within our own reach, and that we should cherish the comfort and familiarity of our own backyard.
Line by Line Meaning
We leave home expecting to find a blue bird,
We start a new journey with high hopes of finding happiness and joy, just like searching for a rare bluebird.
Hoping ev'ry cloud will be silver lined.
We wish that all our problems and difficulties in life will have positive outcomes, like how a silver lining outlines a dark cloud.
But we all return as we live wo learn,
As we experience the ups and downs of life, we eventually come back home to our roots and realize the lessons we've learned along the way.
That we left our happiness behind.
We often forget that true happiness is not found in distant lands and adventures, but in the familiar comforts of our own home.
When they sing you "Look for the Silver Lining,"
People tell us to find the good in every situation, but often they're just looking for financial gain instead of true positivity.
It is silver dollars they're looking for.
Many people are more interested in the material wealth and financial gain that comes with finding a silver lining, rather than genuine happiness.
You will find my friend that the rainbow's end,
The end of a rainbow, often seen as a symbol of hope and good fortune, is actually closer than we realize.
Is somewhere around your kitchen door.
True happiness and contentment can be found in the simple, everyday moments of life, such as spending time with family and friends in our own homes.
The bird with feathers of blue, is waiting for you,
The rare and beautiful bluebird of happiness is not in far-off lands, but in our own backyards, waiting for us to appreciate its presence.
You'll see your castle in Spain, through your window pane,
Even though we may dream of grand adventures and escaping our ordinary lives, we can actually find contentment in the familiar sights and sounds of home, like seeing a beautiful view through a window.
Oh you can go to the East go to the West,
We can travel far and wide searching for happiness and adventure, but ultimately we will realize that true contentment is closer than we thought.
But someday you'll come weary at heart back where you started from,
After all our searching and wandering, we may find ourselves tired and longing for the familiar comforts of our homes and the people we love.
You'll find your happiness lies, right under your eyes,
The things that bring us true happiness and contentment are often right in front of us, but we overlook them in our search for something bigger and better.
Back in your own backyard.
Our homes and the people we love are the true sources of happiness in our lives, and we should appreciate them every day.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Al Jolson, Billy Rose, Dave Dreyer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind